04 Jun The Ultimate Travel Guide to Visiting Batu Caves
Out of all the must see places in the city of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, I think Batu Caves is the most impressive! I mean it’s literally a giant, golden statue at the forefront of a rainbow staircase leading to Hindu temples inside limestone caves. How bizarre, artistic, and amazing is that?! And it’s not only beautiful, but it’s extremely accessible and an easy day trip from Kuala Lumpur.
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About Batu Caves:
Before jumping into how to see it for yourself, let’s learn some backstory of how Batu Caves came about!
Batu Caves, meaning the caves itself, have been around for a long time – like 400 million years long. In the 1800s settlers from China started using the caves and its resources for their farming. Then an American in 1878 came along and announced the existence of the caves to the world. In 1890, K. Thamboosamy Pillay, the leader of the Tamil community, was inspired to use the caves as a Hindu temple, specifically dedicated to Lord Murugan – the god of war and victory. From then on developments over the years were made such as the statues inside the cave, the 272 stairs, and eventually the massive golden statue of Lord Murugan.
Surprising to many (many meaning myself), the famous statue is actually really new. Made of steel, concrete, and painted gold, the statue of Lord Murugan took 3 years to construct and was only just finished in 2006. It is the tallest statue in Malaysia – 42.7 meters (140 ft) in height – and the 3rd tallest Hindu statue in the world! In February, Batu Caves is the site of the colorful Thaipusam festival, where over a million Tamil people come to worship and celebrate. Throughout the year, Batu Caves has thousands of visitors per day. Many to worship, and many for the sake of tourism. This number has obviously gone up since the giant statue was built.
Visiting Batu Caves is not only interesting and a learning experience if you don’t know much about the Hindu religion, but it’s also a beautiful sight to see and experience for yourself. The limestone looks as though it’s dripping off the cliff wall, the statue of Lord Murugan looks even more massive in person, and the steps and temples as colorful as the rainbow.
Where is Batu Caves?
Batu Caves is about 13km/8 miles north from the center of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Although it looks like it might be in the middle of a remote jungle or wilderness, it’s really not. It’s right on the outskirts of the city.
How to Visit Batu Caves
Batu Caves can be visited either in a tour group or on your own. Personally, I think Batu Caves is much more enjoyable to do on your own. It’s very accessible and going on your own is the possibily the cheapest option.
But if you would like to join a tour group, perhaps to learn more history or to meet others, tours are available online at GetYourGuide here.
Getting There
To get to Batu Caves, you can take the train, a GRAB (Asia’s version of Uber), a taxi, or a tour bus. You could also take a city bus, but usually traffic is bad enough that if you’re going to use public transportation, the KTM train is a better option.
To find out how to get from wherever you’re staying, you can use Google Maps or Rome2Rio.
using the KTM train
Cost | RM 1 – 6 ($0.25 – $1.50 USD) – pay in cash
The KTM train is easy to ride and is very cheap. And if you’re staying at a location close to the purple/blue line, then it’s incredibly easy to use. Batu Caves would be the last stop, so you just get on and off, no switching lines. But if you’re near a different colored line, then you will have to switch at some point. However, with Google Maps , it’s easy to follow directions for the switching trains, and you can always ask someone at the station. Most people in Kuala Lumpur speak English, and otherwise you can always have a picture of Batu Caves on your phone to show, everyone knows what it is.
Once you get to the end of the blue line/the Batu Caves stop, simply get off the train and upon exiting the station you’ll see signs pointing to Batu Caves. It’s literally right off the train stop. Because of the limestone and the intensity of the natural scene, most people (again, I mean myself) expect Batu Caves to be farther into the wilderness, but it’s really right next to the train station.
My train experience (for Further Explanation):
When I visited Batu Caves I took the train. I was staying right next to the KTM Putra station (not on purpose), that happened to be the blue line. So I went to the station, told the clerk where I was going, paid about RM 6 ($1.50 USD), they gave me a token (rather than a ticket) which you scan at the first stop and deposit at your last.
The train ended up being delayed an hour, and so being close to the station I went to grab my sunglasses from my hostel. My friend and I came back right after and waited on the platform only for a short while before it arrived. Once on, it was a quiet 20 minutes ride until arriving at the end of the line. From here, Batu Caves was right outside the station. So easy!
Riding the train From a solo female travel perspective:
When I rode the train to Batu Caves, I actually went with a friend I had met at my hostel who wanted to go too. I recommend this because it’s always safer anywhere you go in the world to be with someone, and it can be more fun! Additionally, you have someone to take your photo! However, if I did not have a friend to go with, would I still have ridden the train alone? Probably, yes.
Again, I was with a friend but my impression of the train in Kuala Lumpur is that it is safe especially during the day. However, as a solo traveler, and as a female who knows anything can happen anywhere, I would follow the precautions made in everyday life. Like try and get on a train car with other people, specifically women, and go during the day. I would also follow my instincts and feelings. If you feel uncomfortable going alone, then take a tour or a GRAB.
Find the best way to get to Kuala Lumpur
Entrance Fee, Exploring Batu Caves..and Monkeys!
As I mentioned, if you take the train, Batu Caves is right next to the train station. And here’s the best part…there is no entrance fee! Batu Caves is FREE. Simply walk right up and admire what’s in front of you, snap some pictures, and then take on those 272 stairs. Even though the stairs look daunting, they’re actually not that bad, and you get some awesome views along the way.
But whether you just snap pictures from the bottom or are trudging up the stairs , watch out for the macaques! They are small monkeys that will steal your food and sometimes water bottle. They’re fun to take photos of, but don’t taunt them – sometimes they bite people or take your stuff. I always clutch my camera and phone tight when they’re around. 😅
Inside the caves there are statues and temples. You can walk freely throughout the cave, except for the temples, you must provide a donation to enter and take off your shoes.
Dress Code and Respect
Because Batu Caves is a Hindu temple, although tourists are welcome, it is ultimately a place for worship. So the Hindu rules and beliefs must be respected. And there’s really only one thing to look out for, which is dress code. To enter a Hindu temple everyone, both men and women, must have their knees covered. If you are wearing attire that does not cover your knees, you can borrow a sarong at the entrance of the steps to tie around your waist. I wore a mid-length dress that just went over my knees and was fine. Shoes can be worn inside the cave but if you enter the place for prayer, then you must remove them.
Once inside the caves, pictures are of course allowed, but I would exercise respectable behavior – not being super loud, be respectful of others etc.
How long does a trip to Batu Caves take?
A trip to Batu Saves does not take long. Exploring the Caves itself takes about an hour or two. Then plus transportation, it can be done in half a day and still have time to explore other parts of Kuala Lumpur.
the Best Time to Visit Batu Caves
Kuala Lumpur basically has 2 seasons: wet and dry. It’s almost always humid and hot, so that cannot be avoided. However, one should look out for rain. Not only because your visit may not be as enjoyable, but because the stairs are slippery. The best season to go in is from May – September.
For day to day scheduling, Batu Caves is open from 6am – 9pm. Many travel influencers and photographers try to go as early as possible to skip the crowd and get an iconic photo of just one person on the staircase. If this is your goal, then yes, go at 6am. However, even though most natural places (like beaches, mountains) I enjoy more without a crowd, Batu Caves is not one of them. I don’t feel like the crowd hindered me from enjoying it, and if anything, it was more interesting. The only reason I would not advise going right in the middle of the day is because it may be much hotter going up those stairs. Best to go before noon.
Tips for Visiting Batu Caves
Go earlier in the day to avoid hotter weather and more crowds
Wear comfy shoes for walking up the stairs
Wear clothes that cover your knees so you can avoid borrowing a maybe-not-washed sarong
Take the MRT so that your whole trip to Batu Caves is a grand total of $1.50 USD!
Bring water - with the stairs and the heat, it's easy to become dehydrated. Also a bag so the monkeys won't steal your water
Do not bring snacks because even in your bag, monkeys can smell them and might be tempted to grab from you
There are restaurants at the entrance of Batu Caves, but better to eat in Kuala Lumpur for better quality food that is most likely cheaper
If you want more of a natural cave experience, visit the Dark Cave as well
Where to Stay in Kuala Lumpur
Hostels : Dorms and Private Rooms
Penthouse on 34 – The Highest Hostel in Kuala Lumpur | A comfortable and clean hostel in the Regalia Suites with access to a rooftop infinity pool with views of the city skyline. Dorm beds for $15-20 USD and private rooms available for $45 USD. Check availability here
Sunshine Bedz KL| The most popular and social hostel in Kuala Lumpur. Dorm beds for $10 USD. Check availability here
Mingle Highstreet | A social hostel with a great location, beautiful common area, clean private dorm beds and a pool. Dorm beds are $10-15 USD and privates for $35 USD. Check availability here
Hotels
Ceylonz Starlight Suites Bukit Bintang | Incredible views on a budget from a rooftop pool and patio. These spacious apartments start at $35 USD and are in a great location. Check availability here
Expressionz Suites By iHost Global | Similar vibes but a step up in luxury is Expressionz which also includes skyline views, a patio and pool for sunbathing, and luxury apartments. Rooms begin at $63 USD. Check availability here
And that’s it for the Batu Caves travel guide! If this was helpful or you have questions, leave your comments below!
Traveling in Malaysia? Check out my Malaysia destinations page!
More Resources for Your Trip to Malaysia
Planning your own trip? Here’s some resources I used to book and coordinate my itinerary through Malaysia along with some recommendations:
Hostels
If you’re a budget traveler or looking for an easy way to meet others, Hostelworld is the best place to search. Below are some of my recommendations, click to search for availability!
- Kuala Lumpur: Penthouse on 34 OR Sunshine Bedz KL
- Penang: House of Journey
- Langkawi: Tubotel OR Bed Attitude Hostel
Hotels
Booking.com is the way to go when searching for hotels in Malaysia because they typically offer free cancellation with plenty of affordable to more luxurious stays – also for very cheap!
Flights
Flights to Malaysia are cheapest to Kuala Lumpur or you can fly into Singapore. To find the best deal & prices I recommend using Skyscanner.
BUSES
The easiest way to search for and book buses in Malaysia is with 12GoAsia where you can easily compare options and use a platform in English. It’s actually great for planning all Asia travels as it shows ferry and flight options as well. Check 12GoAsia out here.
Insurance
Travel insurance is a must for every trip to ensure you’re covered in unexpected situations. My go to travel insurance is always WorldNomads which is made for backpackers. You can search for coverage here.
If you’re a digital nomad looking for travel medical emergency insurance, I also suggest Safety Wing.
Tours & Experiences
There’s a lot of free thing to do in Malaysia and experiences you can do on your own. I always recommend checking blog posts for inspiration. If you’re interested in tours to markets, islands, and more then I suggest checking on GetYourGuide & Viator.
Know Before You Go
Check out my Malaysia Destination Page here for information on visas, health requirements, currency, outlets, and more.
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Stephen Rasmussen
Posted at 19:59h, 17 JanuaryNice write up!